Please Call Me Your Highness (GL) - Chapter 5

Dong Xiaoning awoke from sleep, her throat dry and parched. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.

Seeing this, Xiao Fu quickly announced, “Your Highness is awake,” before hurrying to pour a cup of warm water. Supporting Dong Xiaoning with one hand, she brought the cup to her lips with the other.

After drinking half the cup, Dong Xiaoning finally felt fully awake. Then, she muttered that she was hungry.

Immediately, a palace servant brought over a bowl of porridge, which had been kept warm all this time. Dong Xiaoning glanced at it, smacked her lips, and demanded meat instead.

“A large piece of meat, something rich and fragrant.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will order the imperial kitchen to prepare it immediately. However, it may take some time. Would Your Highness like to have a bowl of porridge in the meantime?”

“Take it away. I have no appetite for it.”

Turning her head, Dong Xiaoning’s gaze fell on a plate of pastries on a nearby table.

“That—bring it over. I’ll try some.”

The pastries were promptly presented to her. After taking a bite, Dong Xiaoning found them to her liking and immediately reached for another.

“Xiao Fu, these are delicious. Have some too.”

Xiao Fu hastily declined, shaking her head.

With some food in her stomach, Dong Xiaoning felt her strength return. She leaned back against the headboard and suddenly remarked,

“I almost regret bringing you to the capital, Xiao Fu. Surviving in this place is no easy task.”

Xiao Fu replied earnestly, “As long as I can stay by Your Highness’s side, I am already content.”

She then glanced around, ensuring that all the other palace attendants had left the room before lowering her voice.

“Prince Kangning has completed the investigation into Your Highness’s poisoning. It was someone from the Ji family—motivated by hatred, seeking to end the imperial bloodline. They bribed a cook in the prince’s estate. The prince failed to detect it in time and nearly allowed a grave mistake to happen. The culprit has already been executed, so Your Highness need not worry anymore.”

Dong Xiaoning smiled slightly.

“A simple oversight?”

More likely, Prince Kangning simply hadn’t taken the matter seriously enough.

Now that she was confined to Chengyou Hall, all her meals were prepared under strict supervision, with testers ensuring the food was safe before she consumed anything. That was the real reason there were no more attempts on her life.

“Xiao Fu, since they conducted an investigation, they must have questioned you as well. Did they make things difficult for you?”

“Not at all.”

Xiao Fu answered without hesitation, then added,

“The prince even praised me for my dedication to Your Highness and ordered that I continue to serve you. She also asked me to persuade Your Highness—to stop giving up on yourself and to regain your spirit.”

As she spoke, a flicker of concern appeared in her eyes, mingled with an emotion difficult to detect.

Dong Xiaoning pondered the words. “Giving up on myself?”

Perhaps she had been… a little self-indulgent lately.

It was understandable, though—her previous life had been a relentless struggle, leaving her exhausted. In this life, she had no desire to fight anymore.

Xiao Fu then relayed another piece of information.

“The Second Princess, Dong Yanning, summoned me outside after visiting Your Highness. She inquired about Your Highness’s condition in great detail.”

Xiao Fu’s memory was sharp, and she recounted the entire exchange vividly.

Seeing that Dong Xiaoning was interested, she even mimicked Dong Yanning’s tone and expressions, drawing an amused chuckle from her mistress.

Dong Xiaoning wasn’t laughing at Dong Yanning’s sudden concern—she was laughing because Xiao Fu was trying so hard to entertain her.

After all, she had spent most of her waking hours confined to bed, and life had become terribly dull.

“Ah, if only I were feeling better, I could go outside for a walk.”

“Are you serious, Your Highness?”

Xiao Fu’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Unbeknownst to either of them, someone had recorded their entire conversation from the shadows and delivered it to the Empress Regent.

The Empress Regent handed a memorial to Empress Ming.

“This is an impeachment report against the governor of Xiangbang Prefecture.”

“The one responsible for entertaining the Fourth Princess during her journey back?”

“Yes,” the Empress Regent said flatly. “The memorial states that she is incompetent and has made a mockery of her office. The banquet she prepared for the Fourth Princess was riddled with dishes that could not be consumed together. And yet, such a person governs an entire prefecture?”

Empress Ming quickly skimmed through the document and nodded.

“Indeed, she is unfit for her position. Do you plan to dismiss her?”

The Empress Regent’s gaze lifted to meet Empress Ming’s.

“I would like to. But since she was appointed by the Ming family, doing so might tarnish their reputation.”

Empress Ming’s brows furrowed. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the memorial.

“This is unacceptable. I will inform my mother immediately. The Ming family must discipline its own.”

The Empress Regent smiled faintly, as if pleased.

“That would be best. The Ji family’s fate should serve as a warning—the Ming family should consider how to preserve its fortune for the long term.”

Empress Ming understood the message perfectly.

Still, the conversation brought another unresolved matter to mind—the one her mother had pushed upon her.

By now, the Empress Regent must have heard the rumors.

So what was her stance?

After a moment of hesitation, Empress Ming carefully broached the topic.

“Your Majesty, among my sister Yuzhou and Princess Ancheng’s many daughters, Zhexiu is the most outstanding. She is also a Qianyuan. I was thinking… perhaps we could bring her into the palace for a time?”

“A child from a relative’s family staying for a few days—there’s nothing unusual about that. Even though we are of the royal family, we are not without sentiment. But that child is no longer young, is she? A fully grown Qianyuan residing in the palace could easily invite speculation.”

Empress Ming was not ready to give up. She pressed on, “That was an oversight on my part. But I do truly cherish this child and want the best for her. At her age, she should already hold some position. Would Your Majesty consider granting her a title or an official post?”

The Empress Regent quietly studied Empress Ming.

The two of them had known each other since childhood, surviving the hardest years together—they understood each other better than anyone.

How could she not see through her consort’s real intentions?

However, some truths were too painful to speak aloud. If they were laid bare, it could irreparably wound the love and trust they had built over the years.

There were some things Empress Ming needed to come to terms with on her own.

After a pause, the Empress Regent finally said,

“Once the new Crown Princess is appointed, she can serve as a companion and study partner in the Eastern Palace. What do you think?”

“That will not do.”

Empress Ming cut straight to the point.

“There are already enough rumors outside. I need to know what Your Majesty truly thinks.”

Her posture was firm, her voice unyielding—the result of years spent governing side by side. The careful probing and subtle hints from before were now completely abandoned.

The Empress Regent sighed, then finally spoke,

“Yulan, after I am gone, the throne must belong to our child. Only our child has the right to sit upon it.”

The use of “Yulan”—Empress Ming’s birth name—was no accident.

Hearing it, a flicker of old memories surfaced on Empress Ming’s face, and for a moment, she appeared lost in thought.

Then, she whispered,

“Your Majesty… you know that I do not like Xiaoning. No, I despise that child.”

A pause.

“If our Ruining were still here, we would not be in this situation.”

Tears—a rare sight from Empress Ming—suddenly welled up and fell.

Seeing her in such distress, the Empress Regent quickly rose, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her tears away.

“Ruining’s death was an accident. We cannot change that. Please, don’t dwell on it too much.”

“An accident?”

Empress Ming shook her head violently.

Her emotions flared, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.

“Was it truly just an accident?”

She clenched her fists.

“Or was it someone who refused to accept their fate? Someone who orchestrated an ‘accident’ to take away our Ruining? If not for her death, that wretched girl would never have had the chance to return!”

The Empress Regent said nothing.

The Crown Princess, Dong Ruining’s, fatal fall from her horse had been thoroughly investigated. All evidence pointed to a tragic misstep—an accident.

The Empress Regent had accepted this conclusion.

But Empress Ming had never moved on.

Her grief had turned to rage, leading to countless executions—at least dozens had perished because of her suspicions.

If one were to look at the tragedy through the lens of conspiracy, then who had benefited the most?

There was only one answer.

The Fourth Princess, Dong Xiaoning, who had been freed from exile due to the Crown Princess’s death.

And so, Empress Ming’s fury found a target.

The Empress Regent remained silent, but her thoughts stirred.

Finally, she said, “Enough. It has been too long since we last held a family banquet. Let’s invite Zhexiu as well. It will be good for everyone to gather and enjoy themselves.”

By now, the weather was growing warmer.

Dong Xiaoning was finally well enough to step outside Chengyou Hall for a short time, basking in the sun and observing the palace.

A living, breathing palace felt vastly different from an abandoned one.

“Your Highness, the Empress has sent an invitation. There is to be a family banquet—do you really plan to attend?”

Xiao Fu spoke in a hushed, worried tone, making sure no one else could overhear.

Dong Xiaoning’s lips curled into a smile.

“This season, there should be plenty of fresh fruits. And the Empress’s palace is sure to have the very best. I’d like to try them.”

She sighed wistfully, then turned to Xiao Fu.

“If you’re afraid, you can stay behind. I’ll go alone.”

“No! I’m not afraid!”

Xiao Fu shook her head fiercely, her voice firm and unwavering.

“I am only worried for Your Highness’s safety. But if Your Highness isn’t afraid, then I will go with you!”

Dong Xiaoning said nothing further.

She knew this stubborn little girl could not be easily swayed.

Since she was still recovering from her illness, the Empress Regent had granted her the use of a sedan chair.

This was a novel experience for Dong Xiaoning.

As the carriage swayed gently, she took the opportunity to study the palace layout.

Seeing it with her own eyes was far different from the fragmented memories she had inherited.

As they neared their destination, she caught sight of someone—a young noble surrounded by attendants, radiating an undeniable glow.

For a moment, she couldn’t recall the name.

But the instant she stepped down from her sedan chair, it struck her.

Ming Zhexiu.

A Qianyuan, the child of Princess Ancheng and her consort, Ming Yuzhou.

She had been renowned for her beauty since childhood and was held in high regard among her peers.

The moment Dong Xiaoning entered, she was hit by a wave of cold air.

She marveled at how impressively well-cooled the hall was—until she met the Empress Regent’s gaze.

Then, realization dawned.

She was late.

“A family banquet should be relaxed, but Fourth Sister—don’t you think you’re being a little too arrogant?”

The sharp voice of Dong Muning cut through the hall, piercingly clear.

“Our Grandmother, Mother-Empress, and Mother-Queen have all arrived. And yet you show up this late?”

Her words immediately drew attention, and every gaze in the room turned toward Dong Xiaoning.

For a fleeting moment, she felt the weight of all those stares.